2 NPA rebels killed, 10 hurt in clashes-military

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines - Two New People's Army rebels were reportedly killed, while 10 others were injured in two successive gunbattles with government soldiers in San Isidro and Pinapugasan villages in Toboso town, Negros Occidental last Friday.

Colonel Jonas Sumagaysay, deputy commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, who issued this confirmation to The Freeman, identified the two rebels slain in the Toboso encounters only by their aliases, as Ka Noel and Ka Jimmy.

Those reportedly injured have the aliases of Ka Randy, Ando, Art, Benji, Ti, Jesnar, Botoy, Nono, Ken and Revo.

There was however no body count done by the soldiers on the reported slain and injured rebels.

Lieutenant Col. Isabelo de los Reyes, 303rd Infantry Brigade civil-military operations official, said the clash between the Scout Ranger troops and the rebels at sitio Salvacion in Brgy. Pinapugasan of Toboso, left trails of bloodstains along the NPA withdrawal routes.